Dear John,

I don't have any major issues with the quality of what you do, but what I object to is you guys not telling "Joe Public" how your technology works.

I object to paying someone £650 a day to make a switch work because your instructions suck and your website is near enough useless.

We have an Ironport, and I was quite upset when you bought that company because I feel what was a great open standards organisation will overnight become very closed source and closed standards!  Pah!

Carl

Dear John,

I'm not afraid of getting hurt, but I can't respect myself for staying around to be your quarterly relief valve. It's taken so long for me to finally admit it to myself... I keep thinking we share the same goals, but every time I turn around you abuse my budget. And it hurts, John.

You kept forcing your "upgrades" on me whenever you felt like it. And if I tried to resist, you'd simply refuse to support me any more. That's not a preferred relationship, John... you simply used me, dominated me. It was always about you, you, you. You never thought once about me.

My needs were so simple, John. I needed you to service me well, when I needed it. That's what's great about Vyatta; they rise to the occasion when I need them, and don't keep pounding me at the end of every quarter.

I've finally found balance in my life with Vyatta. Being free from an unnecessary tyranny is so liberating! I guess that's ultimately what it's all about, John: Freedom to do what I want to do, when I want to do it. From this point forward, it's all about me.

Sincerely,
Facing Forward

PS: You left a box of PO's in my room; I burned them.

Dear John,

I don't like telling you this, but I feel like I owe you this much. It's over. The fact is, somebody else has stolen my heart and my loyalty. It started innocently enough. I didn't go looking for it, but somebody caught my eye. I was just going about my business when I stumbled on them. At first they teased me with promises of more performance and lower prices. I didn't believe it because you were so strong in my life. But it kept nagging at me. Without knowing why, I went back and took another look, and then another. It was an irresistable attraction, a seduction. Could it be true, I wondered?
 
They  talked to me in language I could appreciate and understand. They talked about virtualization. They talked about blade servers. They talked about reduced sparing costs. And frankly, they talked in a way that I hadn't heard before. It was a two-way dialog. I was allowed to ask questions, to be skeptical. They asked me to not take anything at face value but to let them prove it to me. Then they did.
 
They showed me pictures, John, and sometimes graphs, too. At first I wouldn't look, not wanting to believe it, rejecting it. But in the end, there it was. There was no denying it. The performance, the prices, and yes, John, the profit margins.  John, how could you? To say that I felt taken advantage of is an understatement. In truth, I felt dirty and even ashamed. How could I have been so blind?
 
Don't be mad. The truth is, you let this happen. You took me for granted. You assumed that once you caught me, I would always be yours. You told me what I wanted to hear, but the fact was that you were lying to me. You said you were the best and you could give me everything I needed. The glitz and the jet-set lifestyle blinded me. I believed you. But  the pictures and graphs don't lie, John.  My eyes are wide open now and I just can't keep up the charade any longer .
 
Ciao,
 
Leaving for Vyatta
 
PS: You never did perform well. You might try taking some Vyatta for that.

Dear John,

I started with Wellfleet, and moved to Cisco.  I remember the days, and nights hunched over the terminal screen, green glow lighting my face in the dark recesses of the wiring closet, diligently pounding out new configurations for network translation... working with FDDI, Arcnet, Token-Ring, Thicknet, IPX and IP, ATM...

The router then took off, Cisco became a household name, stocks rocketed, the 2500 series ruled the datacenters, remote sites, and even some in homes... All IT Support was judged against Cisco Support.  Those were the days...

Then something happened... Cisco began building more "stuff" onto the router, and prices changed dramatically... Cisco began the march to be the next Microsoft... Bloat filled the network... and I have no time for either any more... so...
Farewell...

Dear John,

Router>show run

Yes, it's been fun run, but I have to go now.
It turns out I really do need the security, and the lower costs associated with an open source network.

I'm sorry, I know it's me, not you--I've just changed, and I have to move on.

In any event, I know change is hard, esp. with all the marketing hype you've paid for--well OK we, your customers, paid for.

And I don't expect to see you at an Open Source/Linux conference anytime soon.
But, you are always welcome.
We can talk of all the good times we use to have.
I know there must be one we can talk about--I just can't think of it right now.

Router>erase start
Router>erase flash
Router>reboot cisco org chart

Dear John,

Cisco Engineer means study all the time
Vyatta Engineer means never lose your mind
All we want is simple
A network that just works
No complex commands
No salesmen in pressed shirts

Vyatta came along
And sang a new love song
A Google kind of tune
That means its STOCK grows strong

Cisco you own wireless
 Vyatta, just might steal?
That market with a product
That's wireless for real

It routes and switches wireless
And makes Aruba smart
It PIX apart your commands
Shows run before it starts
It slices, dices mixes and makes our networks clean
It knack is not a box but something in between

Vyatta Partner Network
A VPN affair
Cisco and Dear John
I know you dear to care
Your customers are priceless
And price makes Dear John rich
Vyatta's saw that problem
Hence reasons why to switch

Dear John,
We're exact opposites. You have always wanted to blend in as many features as possible, to be perfect for everybody. I have always wanted to stick with the core solutions that are important to me. What's funny is, it took me so long to realize that we're so different. I want to decide what's right for me and my network and you want to charge me out the wazoo for every feature under the sun.

It has been a devastating blow to realize how much I could have saved over the years using open source networking solutions from Vyatta. And even worse, to come to the realization that you've managed to collect thousands from me in support, upgrades and your fancy "specialized hardware" over the years when I could have been doing the same thing with standard x86 servers. If somewhere during the course of our relationship, you confused my re-orders for loyalty and my component upgrades for love.... YOU WERE WRONG!

Querido John Ch,he usado Cisco desde hace mas de 12 anios, cuando practicamente nadie en mi pais conocia la marca, pero ya me canse de tener que pagar los IOS cada vez que deseo solucionar un problema, y seguir con la burda interface de linea de comandos, he vendido bastantes elementos Cisco desde enrutadores hasta conmutadores, pasando por redes Wireless y VoIP, tengo varios elementos Cisco en mi oficina que los uso como pisapapeles (telefonos cisco 7960,ATA 186, switch 3524, router 2501, router 1601, y un PIX 506), todo lo estoy reemplazando con Vyatta y Asterisk, porque? sencillamente porque funciona mejor que tus elementos.

Otro hecho que me animo a realizarlo fue que en mi pais esta gobernando un presidente que parece hijo de una mezcla entre  Fidel Castro, Will Gates y Ud(John Ch), dice ser socialista y apoya el FOSS pero usa Windows XP y no se sabe ni la cancion de Hasta Siempre Comandante Che Guevara;  dice que tiene una visin clara del futuro (como Will Gates) y no se comprende ni con su hermana; y dice que cambiar el destino de nuestro pas (como John Ch con su telpresence) pero no migra ni la computadora de su secretaria; por todas esas razones he decidido migrar hacia la libertad, hacia Vyatta y Asterisk, porque solamente la libertad  de conocimiento nos librar de la ignorancia del Companierito Rafael Belt.

Victor Hugo
Santo Domingo de los Colorados
Provincia Tsachila

Dear John,

By the time you read this, I'll be gone. I'm sorry for doing this but, it's for the best. I know this might comes as a bit of a surprise to you - especially because I've purchased so much of your hardware over the years. But I'm sorry ...I just need freedom. I think you're swell, but I don't think we're right for each other. First of all, we're not compatible. You keep your source-code locked up tight, and I feel left out. Anyway, I am going to use Vyatta open-source networking products for my router, firewall and VPN needs from now on. But you know what? I still want to be friends. After all, we haven't auctioned all of your equipment on Ebay yet.

Take care of yourself - and good luck.

P.S. I cheated on my CCIE

Dear John,

You have made me pennyless and sad. No more!

I have a new beau, and this one doesn't make me fork over so much dough, so see you around.

Kwa John,
Habari ya masiku bwana John.

Nasikitika kukufahamisha kwamba nimeacha kutumia vipa njia (routers) vyako kuanzia hii leo.
Sababu ya hii ni kwamba nime gundua chombo timilifu cha Vyatta kinacho nipa manufaa mara dufu pita Cisco.

Bei yake pia ni nyororo mfukoni na nina uwezo wa kufumua muundo wake (opensource) kindani zaidi kushinda hio Cisco yako.

Udhalimu na unyonyaji wa makampuni makubwa makubwa kama yako ndio ina tusukuma sisi akina yahe kutumia na kugundua njia tofauti za kufanya mambo.  nikome!

Kwaheri ya kuonana

Dear John,

I bet your all having a good laf over this bunch of pimply faced subs who know jack sh** about telcoms and networking.

oh BTW MIDI is not a layer 5 protocol you might want to have a word with the cisco academy people about that :-)

Dear John,

Let's face it - your too fat for me.  There was a time that you were lean and responsive, and could keep up with our active lifestyle.  But now you just sit there, all bloated and odorous, and wheeze when I ask you join in. Your suit doesn't fit anymore, in fact the colors don't even match - and why do you keep wearing that stupid hat!  Have you seen yourself lately - part desktop, part CE, part network, part application server - this is not what I want out of a relationship.

So goodbye tubby!

PS. I had an affair with Quagga and Xorp while you were in India...they were great.

Dear John,

I am sorry I can not keep up this pretense any longer and need to come clean and admit to you that I have been seeing someone else on the side.

It started off as a casual affair, but the more time we spent together getting to know one another, the more I was convinced that it would be a long lasting stable relationship. The experiences we have had thus far were mutually beneficial and free of the awful fighting you and I used to have trying to see eye to eye and always at my expense.

Regards

Vyoila

Dear John,

We almost had good times, didn't we?  Your friends came over and told me how great you were, in hopes that I would ask you out.  They didn't have to tell me about your great features, I assumed you were "all that", since that's what all the other boys were saying.  Cisco, we all know you have been "around the block". That's good though, it meant that you were tried, tested, and proven.  Then your friends went on to tell me some suprising things.  You won't really like me unless I spend a ton on you, and that's just to get started.  Each problem we might encounter is going to be extra rough since I will have to ask your friends to counsel us, at $200 an hour.

I hope I didn't hurt your feeling by acting interested, because I am not anymore as I found a another partner.  Please understand, it's not you, it's me.  I needed to have all your great features, but Iwithout the expensive counseling costs and startup premiums.  You see, I have to spend money on things like advertising and payroll, and you just don't fit into my life right now.  Since I know you will ask, it's Vyatta that I found comfort with.  Now I can have a high integrity network, and maybe even a little extra spending money for when we want to have fun.

Dear John,

thanks for being the stable boat in my life all these while. Thanks for being there all these years, serving packets after packets, frames after frames relentlessly.

But... truth hurts sometimes and I have to be honest, even with all the bountiful supply of instructions out there... gosh... its just so hard to find what I need to do.

It seems like a certification is needed to steer this stable boat of yours.. without it.. even simple steering cannot be done at times...

but light is always at the end of the tunnel and John my friend, you're not at the end of the tunnel waiting for me; Vyatta is. "Don't rock the boat" if nothing is wrong was the saying. But I have to, for a better, simpler yet more efficient boat is out there waiting for me. Vyatta is there, with her simple twin engine as compared to your nuclear fision engine. BUt truth is.. I just need that twin engine, to help me steer the rough water and tight corners.

John, yours can't without the risk of explosion and I'm sorry, but its time to call time on this relationship, to rock the boat.

Bye John.
Hello Vyatta!

Dear John,

You see, the thing is this, I've  been thinking, I want to be in a relationship that is financially balanced. I want to be with someone I can trust, someone that discloses their innermost secrets with me openly and without having to ask. I want the confidence in knowing that when I spend time on the phone with someone, I am the most important person to them at that moment, and when we are off the phone my problems are at the forefront.

I have met someone new, I am as special to them as they are to me, And I know I can rely on them just as much without financial commitment as when I do spend money with them.

Dear John,

I'm sure this is no suprise to you that I have grown to hate you more than anyone in my life. You are a usless person and you suck as a friend and as a lover. I have never dated someone so selfish in my life. You never really got to know me because you were so wrapped up in yourself and what pleased you. You're ritualistic habbits drove me crazy, blowing your big nose first thing every morning,and drinking a pot of coffee before 6am. Your big baled head full of flakes,grossed me out and you thought you where so cute. You have a small uneducated mind and no class at all. Get lost looser.

Dear John,

Because 24/7 support doesn't do anything for me when I need to offer a 99.99% uptime for my company.  I just keep a second box, fully configured and updated running alongside to automatically take over should the first die.

Should Cisco ever want to mature into a real company, make it open source and I'll come and write some software for you.

Dear John,
It's over. It's not your fault. It's me. I've changed, that's all. I'm finally dealing with my own issues, and I've come to realize that just because you're big and strong doesn't mean you're right for me. Maybe I liked being dominated and controlled when I was younger, but now I'm more mature. I can make my own decisions. I can see that Vyatta's open-source solution gives me twice the speed at half the price, and Vyatta really cares about what I think. Vyatta listened when I said I needed affordable networking on standard hardware. You never did that.

Don't feel bad, your stuff works. It's expensive, sort of slow, and not very satisfying, but you're working on that, right? You always take more than you give, but I know it's not your fault. You have all sorts of proprietary issues. That's who you are. At least you're consistent. I just wish you could have been a little nicer to me, but I won't hold it against you.

I hope we can still be friends, but the truth is I just don't have anything left to give you, so I understand if you think it's best we never see each other again.

In hopes of a better future for both of us,
Crazy About Vyatta